Three prominent veterans won’t be relocating to Los Angeles with their teammates.

The Rams on Friday cut linebacker James Laurinaitis, defensive end Chris Long and tight end Jared Cook, saving $24 million against the salary cap.

By March 9, all NFL teams must be under the 2016 cap amount, which the league has yet to set but is expected to be about $153 million.

Before Friday’s cuts the Rams had projected to be $30 million under the cap, according to USA Today. They now have tons of room to re-sign younger star players to long-term deals, or dip into free agency to plug holes.

“This is the time of year when all NFL teams are faced with difficult decisions regarding their veteran players,” Rams head coach Jeff Fisher said in a statement. “Chris and James are the epitome of what it means to be a pro in this league and it’s been an honour to coach them both. They’ve been the pillars of our defence for many years and not enough can be said of their love for the game and for their teammates.”

They just hamstrung the team, salary-wise.

Laurinaitis, 29, had been one of the NFL’s most consistent, reliable, prolific tacklers since the Rams drafted him in the second round in 2009. He had 109 tackles last season, 109 in 2014, 116 in 2013 and 142 in both 2011 and 2012.

What’s more, Laurinaitis was a fan favourite who was active in the community (well, in St. Louis), and he never missed a game in seven years. He is the franchise’s career leader in tackles with 852.

Expect him to find work quickly.

Long, 30, had been with the Rams for eight years. On Instagram he apologized to Rams fans for sub-standard production over the past two years and indicated he was not surprised to be cut.

Cook, 28, signed as a free agent with the Rams in 2013, after four years in Tennessee. He caught 142 passes in St. Louis but only eight went for touchdowns, and all eight came before last season.

Bear in mind that players such as these cut before the end of the league year (March 9) do not have to wait until the advent of free agency on that day to sign with a new team.

Laurinaitis, Cook and Long are now free to sign anywhere, at any time.

HEEEEATH RETIRES

Tight end Heath Miller informed the Pittsburgh Steelers on Friday he plans to retire.

“I realize how extremely fortunate and grateful I am to have spent my entire (11-year) career as a Pittsburgh Steeler,” Miller said in a statement.

By any barometer, statistical or otherwise, Miller was the best tight end in Steelers history. He’s one of only 12 tight ends in NFL history with 6,000 receiving yards, and his 592 catches are sixth most in league history.

“Since he was drafted in the first round in 2005, Heath has been an amazing player on the field and an outstanding contributor in our community,” Steelers president Art Rooney II said. “On behalf of the entire Steelers organization and Steelers Nation around the world, I would like to congratulate and thank Heath of his many contributions to the Steelers.

“The chants of ‘HEEATH’ will be missed at Heinz Field and around the entire NFL.”

CANUCK QB TRIES OUT

A Canadian is among nine quarterbacks showing their stuff on Saturday to NFL scouts, at the second of five regional scouting combines for fringe draft prospects not selected to participate in next week’s main combine in Indy.

Two years ago, 63 players who took part in a regional combine made an NFL roster.

THREE SUSPENDED

The NFL on Friday suspended three backup players, without pay, for violating the league’s drug policies.

The most prominent is Randy Gregory, the Dallas Cowboys defensive end whose draft stock plummeted a year ago after he tested positive for marijuana in his drug test at the scouting combine.

Gregory will miss the first four games of 2016 for violating the league’s policy and program for substances of abuse. Such a suspensions means he has failed four drug tests since joining the Cowboys last May.

Gregory failed two pot tests at the University of Nebraska.

Similarly, Green Bay Packers defensive end Mike Pennel will miss the first four games of the coming season for transgressing the policy and program for substances of abuse.

Baltimore tight end Nick Boyle will sit out the Ravens’ first 10 games for a repeat violation of the league’s policy on performance-enhancing substances. He missed the last four games of the 2015 regular season for the same reason.

McCOY UPDATE

Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams explained in a statement Friday that his office won’t comment on nor rush its investigation into a Feb. 7 incident at an after-hours night club.

At issue for NFL purposes is whether Buffalo Bills running back LeSean McCoy was involved in a brawl, and if so to what degree, that sent two off-duty police officers to hospital.

“My team and I are continuing to investigate the incident that took place at the Recess Lounge,” Williams said. “Like with all investigations, I don’t comment about what I will or will not do until all of the evidence has been thoroughly reviewed … My only goal is to get it right, not fast. The last thing we need is a rush to judgment.”

EXTRA POINTS

Detroit released C.J. Wilson, a defensive tackle with six years of NFL experience … Miami signed a pair of free agents: cornerback Chimdi Chekwa and receiver A.J. Cruz.

Almost Done!

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